ABSTRACT

Rock breakage with explosives has existed since the seventeenth century when black powder came into use in mining. Since then it has progressed from the invention of dynamite to the use of heavy ANFO. During the past two decades, there have been numerous technical contributions which have brought a better understanding of rock fragmentation with explosives, an improvement in drilling equipment and a noticeable evolution in the development of new explosives and blasting accessories. The Geomining Technological Institute of Spain (ITCE), aware of this progress and of the importance which the breakage process has acquired in mining and civil engineering projects, has ordered the publication of Drilling and Blasting of Rocks. The purpose of this Handbook is to give basic knowledge of the drilling systems, the types of available explosives and the accessories and the parameters that intervene in blast designing, whether controllable or not; at the same time the objectives and contents contribute to improved safety in mining. The Handbook is meant for all professionals who are involved with explosives in mining operations and civil engineering projects, as well as for students of technical schools.

chapter 1|7 pages

Rock drilling methods

chapter 2|28 pages

Rotary percussive drilling

chapter 3|12 pages

Rotary percussive drilling accessories

chapter 4|16 pages

Rotary drilling with rolling tricone bits

chapter 5|8 pages

Rolling cone rock bits

chapter 6|5 pages

Rotary drillling with cutting action

chapter 8|5 pages

Compressors

chapter 10|8 pages

Properties of explosives

chapter 11|13 pages

Industrial explosives

chapter 12|4 pages

Explosive selection criteria

chapter 13|13 pages

Blasting accessories

chapter 14|8 pages

Initiation and priming systems

chapter 16|6 pages

Mechanisms of rock breakage

chapter 19|12 pages

Controllable parameters of blasting

chapter 20|14 pages

Bench blasting

chapter 21|12 pages

Blasting in other surface operations

chapter 22|14 pages

Blasting for tunnels and drifts

chapter 23|8 pages

Shaft sinking and raise driving

chapter 25|20 pages

Contour blasting

chapter 26|9 pages

Underwater blasting

chapter 27|9 pages

Initiation sequence and delay timing

chapter 28|9 pages

Evaluation of blast results

chapter 30|7 pages

Planning the work of drilling and blasting

chapter 31|11 pages

Structure and building demolition

chapter 33|33 pages

Land vibrations, air blast and their control

chapter 34|5 pages

Flyrocks and their control